Agenda

16 Apr 2026 08:40

Ecopedagogy in the Foreign Language Classroom: Promoting Justice, Care, and Relationality

Sala B - Ca' Bernardo

April 16th and 17th, 2026

The International Conference on Ecopedagogy in the Foreign Language Classroom: Promoting Justice, Care, and Relationality establishes an interdisciplinary forum for reimagining foreign language education as a vital site for climate action. This gathering explores the potential of the English language classroom to foster eco-critical literacy, emotional resilience, and a deep sense of care within a shared human–non-human ecosystem. By positioning language learning as a tool for confronting the ecological crisis, the event examines how educators can help students navigate complex environmental relationality. The academic programme is structured around themes that bridge the gap between abstract theory and classroom praxis, including ecocriticism, climate anxiety, and decoloniality. Rather than reinforcing "doom-and-gloom" narratives that lead to learner paralysis, the conference highlights the role of creativity, hope, and digital storytelling to empower young people. By integrating Indigenous knowledge and multilingual approaches, the forum challenges the hierarchies underpinning ecological injustice and acknowledges the profound link between biological and linguistic diversity. Through plenary sessions with distinguished scholars, literary conversations, reflection activities, and creative workshops, the event moves from reflection to tangible change. Participants will also engage with the practical outputs of the EcoStories project. Ultimately, the conference seeks to build a global community of practitioners dedicated to advancing the essential intersection of ecopedagogy and language learning for a sustainable future.

Scientific coordinators of the event:
Marcella Menegale, Fabiana Fazzi, Shaul Bassi, Lucio De Capitani, Michela Gronchi

Main speakers: 
Christian Ludwig, Uwe Küchler, Vicky Macleroy, Hermine Penz, Haley De Korne

The event is open to researchers, students, professionals, foreign language teachers and the general public.

Language

The event will be held in English

Organized by

Dipartimento di Studi Linguistici e Culturali Comparati, ProgettoEccellenzaDSLCC2023

Downloads

Flyer 477 KB
Book of abstracts 1989 KB

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